Don’t Be A Turkey, Use Data to Avoid Thanksgiving Traffic This Weekend

If you dare hit the streets this Black Friday in search of the perfect deal, be sure to double check these Google traffic stats beforehand. You might be surprised to learn that Black Friday isn’t actually as busy as the mainstream media would lead you to believe.
The statistics show that more people are choosing to shop between 6-7pm on Thanksgiving night, rather than the morning of Black Friday. That means that between 4-8AM on Black Friday morning, road traffic shouldn’t be an absolute mess, nor actual foot traffic in stores. So enjoy dinner, and save up your energy for the morning after.
After 8AM on Black Friday is when stores see the massive influx of customers, but even then, Black Friday isn’t the busiest day for many stores. Shopping malls, department stores, superstores, and dollar stores see the most customers the Saturday before Christmas. So rather than having to fight someone for a parking spot the weekend before, Black Friday might actually be your best bet.
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But say you’re not in it for the deals—maybe you and the family are hitting the road for vacation. Don’t worry, Waze has got you covered. Typically the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving see the biggest traffic jams. Starting at 1PM on Tuesday, and 11AM on Wednesday, it’s actually better to hit the road on the day of Thanksgiving (Thursday) to avoid the mad holiday dash.
On the way home, Google suggests you avoid Saturday, and take an extra day to return Sunday. By then, most of the holiday traffic will hopefully have dissipated. Safe travels, fellow car nuts.
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